The new level 3 regulations are balanced, says South Africa’s medical association, but there are other major issues that President Cyril Ramaphosa should have been addressed on Monday night, such as taxis and the crisis facing healthcare workers.
The South African Medical Association (Sama) acknowledged that the restrictions announced by Ramaphosa to deal with the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic were more balanced than those announced at the start of the pandemic.
To curb the increasing number of Covid-19 infections – 50 000 new cases had been reported since Christmas Eve – Ramaphosa has placed the country under level 3 regulations and declared some provincial districts coronavirus hot spots. He also once again banned the sale and distribution of alcohol until January 15, when an assessment will be made whether to continue the prohibition.
